Folding treadle for piano-playing attachments.



. R. J. BENNETT.

FOLDING TREADLE FOR PLANO PLAYING ATTACHMENTS.

APPLIOATION FILED OUT. 27, 1909. 984,527.

Patented Feb. 21, 1911 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

R. (I. BENNETT. FOLDING TREADLE'FGR PIANO PLAYING ATTACHMENTS.

APPLIOATIOY'PILED OCT 27, 1909.

"Patented Feb. 21, 1911 I SHEET 2.

2 SHEETS UNITED STATES PATENT orrrcn- ROBERT J. BENNETT, or MQLINEQILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR r0 nn'rrsrnrmno PLAY R cQMPANY, or MILAN, ILLINOIS, Aconronarron or ILLINOIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 21; 1911.

Application filed Optber 27, 1909. Serial No. 524,887.

To all when it may concern:

Be it known that, I, ROIHCRT J. Bnrmn'r' a citizen of the United States,residing at Moline, in the county of Rock lsland and State of Illinoishave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Treadlesfor Piano-Playing Attachments of which the following is'h specification.

This invention relates to in'iproremcnts in folding tr-cadlcs for pianoplayingattachments adapted to be folded into the casing through anopening therein when not in use and one of the objects of the in vcntionis to provide improved means whereby the treadle and operating mechanismmay be readily detached from thcfoperating mechanism for the windinducing or suction bellows when desired.

A further object is to provide improved mechanism of this characterwhich will be simple in construction and which when fold cd into thecasing will be compact and will occupy a minimum space.

To the attainment of these ends and tho accomplishmcnt of other new anduseful obiects as will appcan the inventionrousisls in the features ofnovelty in the construction. combination and arrangement otthc severalparts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in theacmmpanying drawings illustrating an embodiment of the invention. a ndin which--- Figure l is a sectional \'l0\\' talccn on line 1-l. of li'ip'. 3 of an improved device of this character ccmstructcd in accordanrwwith the n'inciplcs of this invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional View online 22 of Fig. '1. lia i-l is a sectional view on line 3-4-3 of l i. 1.Fig. 4- is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the trcadlc attachmentfolded into the casing of a musical instrument.

Referring more 'mrticularly to the drawings and in the presentxcmplilication of the invention the mnncral 1O designatesv the portionof a, musical instrument to which this improved attachment is appliedand the rawing is provided with an open front :uljaccut the bottomthereof Within the casing and adjacent each side thereof are locatedpamper or suction creating dcriccs I l in the form of pncuinatics orbellows. llach of these bellows is snp 'njirlcd in position in anydcsircd or suitable manner and is arranged so that one of the members ofthe bellows l l l i l l l l l l l l l arm isrclcasctl, the elasticstrmncnt and in a position to swing in an upright plane. Anelasticmember 12, preferably in the form of a spring, is provided whichis disposed between the movable'membcr ofihc bellows and. a fixedsupport, and these springs tend normally to collapse the bellows.

-.-*irranged within the casing at the base thereof and spacedlongitudinally from iach other are roclr shafts 13, each of which isjournalcd in suitable bearings 14 and "the adjacent extremities of theshafts extend bc yond the adjacent bearings, 14 and are journaled inbearings 15 which are spaced from thc'rcspectirc bearings 14. Each ofthe rock shafts 13 is provided with a crank arm 16 adjacent theirrespectivebellows 11 and journalcd to the free extremityof each of thecrank arms is an anti-friction roller 17 which is adapted to engage aprojection 18 secured to the movable member of the/bellows, so that whenthe shaft is rocked to move the crank'arm 17 toward the rear of thecasing". thcmovable member of the bellows will be moved to cause thebellows to expand against the tension of the elastic member 12. lV-hcnpressure on the crank n'icmbcr will collapse the bellows.

A trcadle support is provided adjacent the inner extremities of the rocksln ft 13 and this support comprises two pairs of spaced members 19which are connected at their free extremities by means of a connectingbar or member 20. These members 19 are provided with bifurcatedextremities 21 which are adapted toircmovably engage the portion of therespective rock shafts 13 between thc bearings l-il. and 15, whichlatter scrve as means for preventing displacement of the memberslongitudinally with respect to the rock shafts. The free extremities ofthe memberslflarc provided with feet 22 which are adapted to engage andrest upon ihc lloor. These members 19 may bcof any desired length and ofany desired configuralion and the rear ends thereof are preferably bentupwardly as shown. Secured to cach of lhcroch shafts 1,3 andintermediate the bifurcated extremities '21 of the rcspcctlve pairs ofthe members 19 is a cranl; arm 23, which is preferably disposed in thcopposite direction from the crank arms ;17.-,Thesc crank arms 28 arepreferablyprovided with a will be disposed toward the rear of theinbifurcated extremity into 1 which one eX-.

tremity of a member 9A projects and is removably secured to the crankarm 23, in any desired or suitable manner, preferably by means of afastening device 25 such as a pin or the like, passin through the crankarm 28 and the extremity 24:, and a cotter pin 26 i may be provided forpreventing accidental displacement of the fastening device 25. Theextremity of the member 2i adjacent the end which is secured to thecrank arm 23 is arched as at 27 so as to extend over the rock shaft 13.The forward end of the member 2t is deflected downwardly and-extendsthrough a suitable opening in the toe rail 28. This memberQi is arrangedbetween the pair of members 19 and is supported by means of a pair oflinks 29, one extremity of each of which is pivotally connected as at 30to the member. 24 and the other extremity of the links are connected asat 31 to the members 19. These links 29 preferably incline. forwardly asshown. The free extremity-of the member ill terminates short of theconnecting men'iber '20 of the pairs of members 19 and an anti-frictionroller 39 is journalcd in the free extremity of the member.

Treadles 33 are pivotally supported by their forward extremities to theconnecting member'Qt) of the pairs of members 19. Depending from thelower face of each of the treadles is a projection 31 whichhas aninclined lower face 35 and this face is adapted to engage and rest uponthe roller 32 of the respective menibeis 21. and the depending portions34 of the treadles are so located that when the bellows 11 is collapsed.the

treadle will be held in an elevated po ition for use. W'hen pressure isexerted upon the treadle 33 it will move about it point of pivotalsupport and the extension ill will be depressed to cause the inclinedface 35 to ride over the roller 32, which movement will cause the member24 to swing backwardly upon the supporting links 29 to rock the shaft 13and expand the bellows. By providing the links 29 the members 24 will besupported for a free oscillating movement.

hen the treadles are not in use, the members 19 may be swung about theirpoints of pivotal connection with the shafts 13. whichwill cause themembers 2.- to swing about their points of pivotal connections with thecrank arms 23 to permit the treadles to be folded into the casing. ..\sthe supports and treadles move inwardly into the casing, they willassnmethe positions shown in Fig. 4, that is, the depending portion 34will move away from the anti-friction roller 32 and the member 24 andthe treadles will be supported so as to hang in upright positions fromtheir points of pivotal connection with the supporting frame.

\Vhen it is desired to remove the treadle attachment all that isnecessary is to remove the fastening devices 25 to disconnect themembers 2 f from the crank arms 23, after which the entire treadlemechanism, including the treadles, and operating members 24 may bereadily detached and removed, leaving only the rocker shafts and theirsupports and the crank arms 16 which operate the bellows. 3

In order that the invention might be fully understood the details of theforegoin embodiment thereof have been thus speci cally described, butWhat is claimed as new is 1. In a folding pedal mechanism,'thecombination of a treadle support pivoted at its inner end to a fixedsupport, a rock shaft, a bellows, an operative connection between theshaft and bellows, an operating member, a link supporting said memberintermediate itsends and. from the treadle support for bodilyoscillating movement, an operative connection between the member andthe" shaft, a treadle pivotally mounted on the support, the free end ofthe said operating member terminating adjacent the treadle, and means onthe treadlc adapted to engage the free end of the member to oscillatethe same to rock the shaft, said treadle support and operating memberbeing movable respectively about their points of connection with a fixedsupport and shaft during folding and unfolding movements.

2. In a folding pedal mechanism, the combination of a treadle supportpivoted at its inner end to a fixed support,,a rock shaft, a bellows, anoperative connection between the shaft and bellows, an operating member,a link pivotally supporting the member intermediate its ends and fromthe treadle supportfor bodily oscillatingmovement, an operativeconnection between the member and the shaft, a treadle pivotally mountedon the support, one end of said operating member terminating adjacentthe treadle,

and a cam on the treadle adapted to engage and move over the end of theoperating member to oscillate the same to rock the shaft, said treadle,support and operating member being movable respectively about theirpoints of connection with the said fixed support and shaft duringfolding and unfolding movements.

3. In a folding pedal mechanism, the combination of a treadle supportpivoted at its inner end to a fixed support, a rock shaft. a bellows, anoperative connection between the shaft and bellows, an operating member,a link pivotally supporting the member intermediate its ends and fromthe treadle support for bodily oscillating movement, an operativeconnection between the member and the shaft, a treadle pivotally mountedon the support, one end of said operating member terminating adjacentthe trcadle, a roller on the said end of the operating memher, and a camon the treadle adapted to en and shaft during folding and unfolding theoperating memberto rock the shaft, said.

treadle .support and operating member being movable respectivelyv abouttheir points of connection with the said fixed support movements.

4. In a folding treadle mechanism, the

combination of a treadle support detachably pivoted at itsinner end to arock shaft, a bellows, tion betw'een the shaft and bellows, an operatingmember, means supporting said member intermediate its ends and from thetreadle support for longitudinal oscillatory movement, a detachableoperative connection between theimember and the shaft, and

a fixed support,

atreadle pivotally mounted on the treaplrle erating member, a linksupporting said member intermediateits ends and from the treadle supportfor bodily oscillatory movement, a treadle pivoted to thesupport adaptedto engage andoscillate said member, a crank on the shaft, and afastening'device for connecting the said operating member and the crank,said fastening device also serving to hold the parts assembled andadapted to be removed to permit the treadle support, operating memberand treadle to be detached.

l 6. In a folding treadle mechanism, the combination of a rock shaft, atreadle support comprising spaced cotiperating members pivotallyconnected to the shaft at their inner ends, and for independent movementwith respect to the shaft, an operating member disposed between thefirst said members, a link pivotally supporting said operating memberintermediate its ends and from the treadle support, a crank on theshaft, means connecting one end of the operating member with the crank,a treadle pivotally' mounted on the support, thefree end of theoperating member terminating adjacent the treadle. and means on thetreadle detached from and engaging said operating member' to operate thelatter when the treadle is operated, said operating member also servingto hold the treadle in position for use.

7 In a folding treadle mechanism, the

cdmbination of a. rock shaft,a treadle support comprising a memberhaving a bifurcated extremity engaging the shaft for detachablyconnecting the member to the shaft for pivotal movement independentlywith respect to the shaft, an operating member,

an operative connecadapted to. engage and a crank on the shaft, means alink pivotally supporting the latter intermediate its ends and from-thetreadle support, a treadle pivotally mounted on the support, one end ofsaid operating member terminating adjacent thetreadle and de tachedtherefrom, said treadle being adapt ed to engage and operate saidoperating member, and a detachablepivotal connection between theoperating member and the shaft, said connection serving to hold theparts assembled, the treadle support, treadle. and operating memberbeing adapted to be removed when said connection is detached.

8. In a folding treadle mechanism, the.

combination. of a rock shaft, a treadle sup port comprising a memberhaving a bifurcated extremity engaging the shaft .for'detachablyconnecting the member to the shaft for pivotal movement independentlywith respect to the shaft, an operating member, a link pivotallysupporting the latter intermediate its ends and from the treadlesupport, a treadle pivotally mounted on the support, one end of saidoperating member terminating adjacent the'treadle and being detachedtherefrom, said treadle being operate said operating member, Idetaehably and p-ivotally connecting the said operating member with thecrank, said connect-ing means serving to hold the parts assembled andpermitting theremoval of all ofthe parts when detached.

.9. In a folding treadle 'mechanism, the

combination of a rock shaft, atreadlesupf port comprising a memberhaving a bifurcated extremity engaging the shaft for detachablyconnecting the member to the shaft i for pivotal movement. independentlywith respect to the shaft, an operating member, a link pivotallysupporting the latter intermediate its ends and from the treadle support, a treadle pivotally mounted on the support, one end of saidoperating member terminating adjacent the treadle and being-dd tachedtherefrom, said treadle being adapt-- ed to engage and operate saidoperating member, a crank on the shaft, the other end of said operatingmember arching over the shaft and terminating adjacent the crank. andmeans detachablv connecting the end of said member with the crank. thelast said means serving to hold all of the parts assembled andpermitting the detachment of said parts from the shaft whendisconneeted.

. In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses, dayof October A. D. 1909.

ROBERT J. BENNETT.

on this 16th 'Witnesses:

IVIILLIAM E. TiioMPsoN, WM. H. COLLINS

